“Fortnite”, the Video Game that Breaks all the Records

“Fortnite,” the video game that breaks all records hearing his leading survival

game itself within a few months as a phenomenon outside the norm, with record hearings on the internet and tens of millions of followers.

‘Fortnite’ game of survival in a wacky universe made of parachute bus, grenades disco and humorous costumes. EPIC

‘ So everyone plays at . Fortnite. But, like, really everyone. ” The remark, astonished and admiring, unleashed on Twitter by an expert in the video game market, summarizes a statement unanimously shared with humor and simplicity: shooting game Fortnite turned a few months into a global phenomenon of impressive magnitude.

EPIC, its publisher, already claimed a whopping 40 million users in January. According to the firm Newzoo, a player on six be was addicted to Fortnite in February; on the YouTube platform, it became the title most active in front of Minecraft. In March, it reached the status of most watched video game on a month in the history of the Twitch platform, in front of League of Legends.

His success is such that, according to Bloomberg, stock prices of the competing American giants Activision-Blizzard (Call of Duty, Destiny) and Take Two (Grand Theft Auto) have respectively unscrewed from 11 and 12% in March by his fault, customers referring on the new game to fashion.

To the point that the popularity of Fortnite has now become a matter of joke… and anxiety. Since the end of March, the launch of a mobile version also further increased the presence of the title, now available on any platform, any time. As noted in the specialized site Kotaku, teachers complain now saturated Wi – Fi networks and ongoing long-term students by their parties.

Change of tack

Fortnite, this is what is called a “battle royal”, a game of survival between 100 players between them, until only one remains. His success is all the more surprising that even eight months ago, he belonged to a different kind of zombies hunting. ‘ The heart of . “Fortnite, explore, build and defend, it was excited to find these sensations of our childhood”, explained in June at the World Zak Phelps, his executive producer, so its mode to 100 had not yet was announced.

But in summer 2017, PlayerUnkown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), a free-for-all game to 100 opponents simultaneously developed by the Koreans of BlueHole, beating record after record popularity popularity. FortniteAmerican editor, Epic (Unreal Tournament, Gears of War, Unreal Engine technology engine) plays then his all and launched in September a mode of the game inspired by the latter, oriented survival, every man for himself, race equipment, devious traps and strafing to view.

The concept, inherited a version modified military simulation ArmA and central in the PUBG phenomenon in 2017, grows here of unexpected and fun construction features, each participant may at any time build stairs or walls. In just six months, here it is from improvised the most popular Royal battleRoyal battle .

Charles colleges and high schools

At the Lycée Saint-Joseph of Auxerre (Yonne), where The world came to do a workshop around the press in March, they are likely to engage in. “Game mechanics are simple, everyone can understand what’s going on, and in addition, unlike other Royal battle, it is available on all platforms ‘, said Charles, 16. Nino, 17 years, points out that “it’s a fairly simple game style, can we take a break for six months, we will be not be dropped”.

The atmosphere shifted, fun features, and ease of access “Fortnite” have done much to its success. EPIC

Corentin, 17, remembers with pride his best part: “I was alone against four with only a silent submachine: I eliminated the team, it was wow!” But everyone can find a different pleasure. “The graphics are successful, it resembles reality while being a bit childish”, watching Lola, 16. ‘Is not a game where you kill, we also build things, change war games’, says for his part Lisa, 16.

However, all did not give to the ‘fortnitemania ‘. Julie doesn’t even see the interest. “It does nothing in life, is better to go to the channel to play it!”‘It is a fad’, says Andrea, 16.

A meteoric rise

And indeed, since September, the game did that climb in popularity. In February, for the first time, he dislodges PUBG of second place in the most watched games on Twitch, behind League of Legends. All the indicators show a runaway, then as PUBG, until then the most streamed, starts to decline slightly.

The month of March was historic. Fortnite became the second game on Twitch to exceed the 100 million hours of viewing a month, breaking the record of League of Legends (118 million against 103). According to the analysis of video content Gamoloco site, “there are now more people who broadcast Fortnite that League of Legends PUBG, DoTA 2 and counter-strike: Global Offensive together.”

Alone, Ninja, its star player, realize best hearings than all channels together in most of the games. March 13, session of a live game with rapper Drake brought 630 000 spectators, still a record. On Youtube, a stream has reached 1.1 million simultaneous viewers. A rap dedicated to Fortnite was viewed a whopping 15 million times.

New rivalry between players

The rivalry between players PUBG and Fortnite almost already deserves to be inscribed in the history of the video game, so it evokes those iconic, between owners of Sony or Nintendo, or followers of FIFA consoles or Pro Evolution Soccer.

Classic conversation on social networks. Screenshot

On the one hand, aficionados of a Royal battle pure, harsh, realistic and uncompromising, made of huge maps and demanding ballistics. On the other hand, proponents of one approach more uninhibited in the universe cartoon, to the rhythm of the game more sustained, more playful clashes. In this game, Fortnite is taking hold.

This reversal of the situation plays out in details, such as the colorful aesthetics which facilitates the tracking of the opponents, or the absence of a button to fold down, drastic choice that actually eliminates the “campers”, those irritating players who like to wait hidden in the grass, to shoot from a distance. Everything is done to make the game more lively and spectacular.

“Fortnite” is designed to offer a more intense and bouncing experience than ‘PUBG’, who preferred the sidelines. BlueHole

The game is also based on a different economic model: Unlike PUBG, which costs 30 euros, Fortnite is accessible free of charge, is paying instead of optional, as transactions of the skins, costumes often wacky.

In order to increase its popularity, Epic must organize in June the Fortnite Celebrity Pro-am, a tournament of prestige bringing together the 50 best players in the game and 50 world celebrities.

“So many hopes at the beginning.”

“Fortnite”, a decomplexante of the ‘battle royal’ approach, these games to 100 players. EPIC

The success of the battle royal of Fortnite version is not that happy. Among its competitors, of course, and particularly Bluehole (PUBG). The Korean studio said to be felt betrayed by Epic, which is its technology provider.

On their side, Fortnite’searly adopters, those who adhered to the game at the time where there was a question of zombies to beat in a fashion adventure, are now abandoned.

Incidentally, with its competitive dimension and its hordes of overtrained fans, the game of Epic is a perpetual lesson of humility for thirty slightly rusty, as noted on Twitter a Texan philosopher: ‘ life is like . Fortnite. You have so much hope for success and opportunities at the beginning, but after a few seconds, you’re sniper by a child of 10 years, and it’s over. »

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About Me

I founded Analog Addiction in hope of sharing my personal views on the video game industry, it has become my pride and joy. I love video games and I love trophies. I am always up for a laugh and not afraid to speak to mind, with a strong passion for writing. I do this because I love it and everyday is a blessing, that I never take for granted.